Liquid transferring apparatus



Jan. 31, 1950 c. N. POGUE LIQUID TRANSFERRING APPARATUS 2 Shee'ts-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 5, 1945 I NVEN TOR: CHARkES Nfiocaua x-rm; E y.

Jan, 31, 1950 c. N. POGUE 2,495,905

LIQUID TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 so 3%2a 19 78 29 T 26 J a 25 21 2o 45 m I 75 iNvEN'l-o C'HA LES N.POGUE.

Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE LIQUID TRANSFERRINGAPPARATUS Charles N. Pogue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada ApplicationNovember 5, 1945, Serial No. 626,785 In Canada August 28, 1945 2 Claims.(Cl. 2261l6) This invention relates to'liquid transferring apparatus andhas more particular reference to devices of this character for thetransfer of liquids from a source of supply to a required container orvessel.

In the art of transferring liquids, a well known and most commonlyemployed method is to first fill a container at the source of the supplyand then carry it by hand to the required vessel and then pour theliquid into the vessel direct from the container or by use of a funnel.This mode of transferring or conducting liquids from one point toanother has many disadvantages not only from the standpoint of view ofloss of the liquids and thedifllculty of labour involved in the transferbut where liquids such as gasoline and other combustibles are involved,the question 01 fire hazard immediately arises and if for no otherreason, fire hazard is one thing that requires to be carefully guardedagainst.

Where tractors, combines, motor boats, etc., are concerned, thereplenishing of a supply of gasoline or oil is frequently required andinvariably such supply is some considerable distance from the point ofoperations. To replenish the supply then, one has to return to thecentral point of distribution and this procedure is uneconomical andsometimes quite difficult. On the other hand where a supply istransported to the immediate area of activity, for example, in drums,the usual procedure is to resort to the old method of removing a supplyfrom a drum into a can by hand pump or the like and then carrying it tothe tractor or like device where it is poured into the tank and asalready mentioned this is not only a laborious and diflicult task butwhere gasoline and like inflammables are concerned, it requires verylittle spilling to create a fire hazard which is most dangerous andshould by all means be avoided.

It is one of the objects of the present invention therefore to avoid andovercome the foregoing and other objections and disadvantages byproviding a device of this character wherein liquids including gasoline,oil, etc., may be transferred from a source of supply to the requiredcontainer or receptacle without the necessity of resorting to ordinaryfilling means.

- Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of thischaracter wherein means are provided for automatically shutting off theflow of the liquid when a predetermined level has been reached withinthe container or vessel to which it is transferred.

A further object of the present invention is 2 to provide a device ofthis character wherein substantially the entire apparatus fortransferring the liquid may be of the detachable or of .the permanenttype.

Having regard to the foregoing and other objects and advantages whichwill become apparent as the description proceeds and the details becomeknown, the invention consists essentially in the novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in detail and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 discloses an embodiment. of the present invention wherein thesuction element is shown as a permanent installation.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l disclosing the present invention inthe form of a portable or detachable installation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the structuralarrangement in detail.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is an enlargedfragmentary section taken through the center of the valve.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferredembodiment of the present invention is disclosed and wherein likeletters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in thedifferent illustrations, the letter A indicates the present invention asa whole which for purposes of illustration is shown operativelyassociated with a tractor B while the letter C indicates a container ordrum in which is carried a source of liquid supply and the letter D atank or container to which the liquid is to be transferred.

For operative purposes the present invention preferably employs a vacuumor suction producing mechanism. Such mechanism may take any practicaland convenient form and in the present instance I disclose this means inthe form of a connection with the intake manifold of an internalcombustion engine. While I have illustrated the intake manifold as amedium of producing a vacuum or suction in this instance, it is to beclearly understood that other types of vacuum producing mechanism may beconveniently and appropriately employed. Thus, for example, where thedevice is employed for factory or plant use, a vacuum pump, electricallyor otherwise operated may be utilized.

Referring now to the details of the invention as herein exemplified, thedevice includes a cap or cover member l5 preferably constructed ofrubber or like material having a liquid conducting tube or conduit itformed integral therewith. The integral conduit may, of course, bedispensed with, if requirdi, and a metal or like conduit substitutedtherefor. Preferably, a screen or the like "a is mounted in the tube.

A relatively large liquid conducting passageway I! is formed within thecap l to provide communication with the conduit it while an opening I8is arranged at one side of the cap and is adapted to receive therein apipe or like connection l9. A flexible hose 2!! of any desired length isconnected to the pipe 19 and is adapted to extend into the drum orreservoir C which may contain a supply of gasoline or other liquid.

At a point adjacent the passageway I1 I provide the cover cap IS with afurther passageway 2| which extends vertically therethrough. Into thepassageway or opening 2| I insert a tube like valve fitting 22, suchvalve fitting being designed to create a vacuum in the tank and todetermine the level to which the vessel or tank is to be filled withliquid. The valve fitting has a diameter appreciably smaller than theconduit l6 and includes a conducting tube 23 mounted in opening 2| andextending above and below the cover cap l5. Within the fitting or tube Iprovide an enlarged passageway 24 the base of which is formed with aseat 25 while a spherical ball valve 25, preferably of metal, isnormally designed to rest upon the seat 25.

As more particularly illustrated in Fig. 3, the head of the fitting 22is provided with an insert or plug 21 having a passageway 28 therein,the base of the plug having a valve seat 29 formed thereon. Extendingthrough one side of the fitting 23 and communicating with the passageway28 is a pipe or like connection 30, while extending from the connectionto the vacuurrnproducing mechanism is a fiexible hose or conduit 3 I.The vacuum producing mechanism, in the present instance, is illustratedin the form of an intake manifold 34 and such manifold is provided witha shut-off valve 35 to which the hose 3| is connected. From theforegoing it will be seen that a valve controlled connection isestablished between the fitting 22 and mechanism 34 for producing avacuum.

As previously mentioned, the lower extremity of the fitting 22determines the level to which a tank or other vessel is to be filled andunder differing circumstances different levels of liquid fil ing arerequired. In order to make provision for such conditions, the member 22is provided with pipe extensions?! and 38 which are detachably connectedto member 22 as by threading or other appropriate means.

By again referring to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the ball valve 26is of a lesser diameter than the passageway 24 so that when the valve islifted from its seat through the action of a vacuum, air may flow freelyaround the ball valve and through the connecting conduits. Further, itis observed that while I do not set an exact distance of travel of theball valve 26. in its movement to shut-off the vacuum, such distance oftravel 4 ate to shut-off the vacuum in the container D immediately it isrequired to do so.

In addition to the foregoing, the valve seat 25 of the member 22 isprovided with drain recesses or the like 40 so that should some smallamount of liquid enter the passageway 24 during the shut-off operation,such liquid may automatically drain therefrom into the tank when thevacuum is released.-

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. the cover cap 15 is placed upon theneck 42 of the filler inlet of vessel D which is to be filled, with theconduit Hi and pipe 22 extending thereinto. In practice, while I havefound it expedient and sufficient to simply place-the cover cap over theinlet 22, the base of the cover may be provided with lugs 43 forengagement with the customary lock engaging means of the neck of theinlet. Additionally, the base of the cover cap is provided with adepending skirt 45 to insure that the device is in a proper positionprior to operation.

The description thus far given has been directed more particularly tothe details of the invention disclosed in the portable type of devicewherein the unit as a whole is carried or transported from place toplace as required. Where, however, the vacuum section is formed as apermanent installation, only the cover cap and connection observed inFig. 1 are required to be portable. With the permanent fixture then theflexible hose or conduit 3! is connected directly and permanently withthe tank or vessel D and the valve while the cover cap is fitted withthe hose connection 20. Primarily, the permanent type is designated fortractors, combines. motor boats, etc., moving from place to place andobtaining supplies at different points of convenience which areordinarily removed from a source of supply, thus, while one type ofstructure differs from the other in the matter of making one sectionpermanent, the function and principle is exactlythe same in both formsof structure.

In operation, drums or like containers with gasoline, oil or otherliquids are arranged at desirable points and as the supply of fuel oroil in the tractor or other vehicle becomes low, the vehicle is drivento the closest point of refill and the apparatus is attached thereto bysimply placing the cover member [5 over the neck of the gasoline orother filling inlet. With this complete, the hose connection 20 isextended into the source of supply or drum C while the flexible hose 3!is connected with the shut-off valve 35 of the manifold 34 or othervacuum producing device. The combustion engine, being in operation,produces a vacuum or suction in the manifold 34 so that by openin valve35 a vacuum is created in tank D through conduit'3l With the vacuum thuscreated, the liquid in the drum or other source of supply C to be drawnthrough the hose should not .normally -exceed about three-sixteenths ofan inch where the diameter of the connection 20 and by way of conduitHi, is discharged into the fuel tank D or other receptacle.

With the application of the vacuum, the ball valve 26 moves upwardlyfrom its seat 25 into passageway 24 where it is maintained in suspendedform by the vacuum permitting air to flow freely therearound while theliquid is drawn from container C and discharged through member l5 intotank D. The fuel tank D or other receptacle will then commence to fillwith the liquid being transferred and continue to rise until such timeas such liquid reaches the level of the lower extremity of the members34 or 31 or 22 as the case may be. a

When the liquid transferred to the tank or vessel 1) reaches a levelcorresponding to the lower extremity of the members 38 or 31 or 22previously mentioned, the liquid will then endeavour to pass upwardlythrough the valve apparatus 22 and in doing so will, as a solid, impingeagainst the ball valve 26 causing it to move upwardly and against theseat 29 where it will shut oil the vacuum and thus the flow of liquidfrom one container to the other ceases immediately.

At this point of operation, and with the vacuum to the tank D broken,the valve 35 is operated to close the vacuum connection between themanifold 34 and the tank D. With this operation complete, the vacuum inthe tank is released and the ball valve 26 drops to the normal positionshown in Fig. 3. The cap IS with associated elements is then removed andthe ordinary reservoir cap is applied to the inlet 42 of the vessel orcontainer D.

Many changes may be made in the above and many apparently widelydifierent embodiments constructed without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics of the invention. It is intended thereforethat the present disclosure be interpreted as illustrative rather thanrestrictive and that all changes coming within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In liquid transferring apparatus of the character described, a vacuumconducting conduit and a liquid conducting conduit, the said vacuumconducting conduit being provided with valve means and the said vacuumand liquid conducting conduits connecting a tank or container with asource of vacuum and a source of liquid supply, a ball valve operable inthe valve means for controlling a flow of evacuated air from the tankand the transfer of liquid to the tank, the

said ball valve permitting evacuated air to flow therearound during thetransfer of liquid to the tank and to automatically shut-oil the vacuumwhen the liquid transferred to the tank reaches a predetermined leveland impinges thereagalnst and said vacuum conduit extending downwardlyfrom the valve a variable distance to vary the level of the liquidtransferred to the tank.

2. In a liquid transferring apparatus of the character described, a capmember, a vacuum and a liquid conducting conduit connecting the capmember, the said cap member being adapted to connect the filler inlet ofa tank or container with a source of vacuum and a source of liquidsupply, valve means for controllin the flow of evacuated air from andthe transfer of liquid to the tank, the said valve means being providedwith a passageway having a ball valve freely movable therein, the saidball valve permitting evacuated air to flow therearound during thetransfer of liquid to the tank and to automatically shut-off the vacuumwhen the liquid transferred to the tank reaches a predetermined leveland impinges thereagainst the said passageway having a length not lessthan about three times the diameter of the ball valve for restrictingthe movement of the ball valve during the vacuum shut-off operation anddrain channels permitting liquids to automatically drain from the seatof the ball valve.

CHARLES N. POGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,443,977 Carr Feb. 6, 19232,325,674 Gustafson Aug. '3, 1943 2,356,428 Ranney Aug. 22, 1944

